Energy stocks lead a broad rally as the price of oil soars

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks made their biggest gain in more than a month on Friday as oil prices surged, lifting energy stocks. Tech stocks also climbed as Apple jumped the most since August.

Energy companies soared after the price of U.S. crude jumped 9 percent. Oil prices reached their lowest level in 12 years earlier this week, but they jumped the last two days.

The gain Friday, combined with a smaller increase the day before, gave the market its first weekly advance after three weeks of declines. It’s been a dismal start to the year so far, and on Wednesday the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled as much as 565 points before recouping some of its loss.

Much of the volatility has been driven by wild swings in the price of crude oil, which many investors see as a barometer for how well the global economy is doing. A sharp drop in oil prices over the last year and a half has decimated profits at oil companies, and many expect the damage to continue as global production of oil far outstrips demand.

As for market turbulence, many expect more of that, too.

Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist for Wells Capital Management, said he thinks the S&P 500 will slide to around 1,800 before a real recovery comes. That’s below even the darkest moments from Wednesday’s midday swoon.

“It’s going to continue to be a struggle,” he said. “Everyone will be convinced we’re heading for recession, everyone will be convinced we’re in a bear market.”

On Friday the Dow Jones industrial average rose 210.83 points, or 1.3 percent, to 16,093.51. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index had its best day since early December, gaining 37.91 points, or 2 percent, to 1,906.90. The Nasdaq composite index made its biggest gain since September, adding 119.12 points, or 2.7 percent, to 4,591.18.

For the week, the Dow rose 0.7 percent, the S&P 500 climbed 2 percent and the Nasdaq increased 2.3 percent.

European markets also rose Friday on hopes for more economic stimulus from the region’s central bank. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index had its best day in four months as investors hoped the Bank of Japan will also step in.

In energy trading, U.S. crude rose $2.66 to $32.19 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, rose $2.93, or 10 percent, to $32.18 a barrel in London. U.S. oil climbed 21 percent over the last two days and it has recovered about half its losses from earlier in the year.

Goldman Sachs analyst Jeffrey Currie said energy prices have fallen so far that the industry is making real cuts in production. “We are now at a price level that is creating real fundamental change,” he said.

Apple, which has lost about a quarter of its value in the last six months, rose $5.12, or 5.3 percent, to $101.42. Microsoft gained $1.81, or 4 percent, to $52.29. Facebook added $3.78, or 4 percent.

Telecommunications and utilities stocks also rose and turned positive for the year. They’re both up 1 percent while the other eight industrial sectors in the S&P 500 are much lower in 2016. Last year the S&P 500 utility index fell 8 percent and telecom stocks fell 2 percent.

Paulsen, of Wells Capital Management, said investors turn to utilities and telecom stocks when the market gets rough. Companies in those industries pay relatively large dividends, which means their prices are more stable and the stocks behave almost like bonds.

“They are just the most conservative sector of the stock market,” he said.

American Express gave a negative outlook for 2016 and 2017. The company expects its earnings per share to fall this year even though it’s selling credit card accounts tied a co-branded credit card it offers with Costco. That relationship is ending.

Amex fell $7.58, or 12.1 percent, to $55.06, its biggest loss in almost seven years. American Express is a Dow component, and that loss caused the Dow to lag the other major U.S. indexes.

Gold and copper producer Freeport-McMoRan tumbled 39 cents, or 9.1 percent, to $3.94. Its shares have dropped 42 percent in 2016 after huge plunges the previous two years. The company has struggled as metals prices have fallen, and its decision a few years ago to invest in oil and gas came shortly before those prices also plunged.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline added 5.3 cents, or 5.1 percent, to $1.084 a gallon. Heating oil picked up 9.8 cents, or 10.9 percent, to 99.6 cents a gallon. Natural gas inched up to $2.139 per 1,000 cubic feet.

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